Il buffone Suvenir e la prospettiva rovesciata nel 'Re Lear della steppa' di Ivan Turgenev

In this paper the author focuses on the spread of the ancient archetype of the joker (trickster) in Russian literature, with particular attention to Turgenev's works. The author analyses the presence and functions of joker characters in Turgenev's works. Particular evidence is given to Turgenev's short novel "King Lear of Steppes", where the character Suvenir perfectly embodies the look and the functions of the ancient joker.